Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Tribal Solid Waste Education and Assistance Program (TSWEAP)
Source Reduction Strategies for Tribal Solid Waste Programs
“Designing and Managing a Compost Program”
Laura Medvin- Susanville Indian Rancheria
Environmental Technician
What are the benefits of composting?
Depending on your waste stream, anywhere from 30% to 60% of your waste can be Depending on your waste stream, anywhere from 30% to 60% of your waste can be composted. By removing compostable materials you:composted. By removing compostable materials you:
Lessen the weight of waste that ends up in landfills and transfer stationsLessen the weight of waste that ends up in landfills and transfer stations
Reduce the types of waste that smell and attract scavengersReduce the types of waste that smell and attract scavengers
Reduce the amount of waste that contributes to Greenhouse Gases – Reduce the amount of waste that contributes to Greenhouse Gases – especially methaneespecially methane
Compost improves all soil types – opening up heavy clay soils and helping light Compost improves all soil types – opening up heavy clay soils and helping light soils retain moisture and nutrients – which means less watering and reduced soils retain moisture and nutrients – which means less watering and reduced fertilizer usefertilizer use
Compost improves the health of plants, meaning less problems with pests and Compost improves the health of plants, meaning less problems with pests and diseasesdiseases
How does composting work?
A compost pile works to break down certain materials until the items are once again in their original state. The materials must be items that
originated from the earth. A combination of many gases, oxygen, sunlight, water and air assists the decomposition process.
How does composting work? To be more specific…..
Successful composting is all about getting the right proportions of compostable materials, air and water.
Water: The process works best if the compost is kept moist, but not saturated, with water
Air: A well aerated compost pile breaks down quicker
Microbes: The workhorses in any compost system “A living organism that can be seen only with a microscope. Soil microbes help dead plants and animals to decompose
www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/a71fa2b6e2b6d3e980256a6c004542b4/3f488deea330775f80257149004fc2c8!OpenDocument
Browns: The bacteria and fungi use the carbon as an energy source
Greens: These bacteria and fungi use the nitrogen as “digestive enzymes” to break down the carbon
What you will need:
• “Greens” + “Browns” +Water + Air = Compost
• Greens are the nitrogen source and include
– Yard waste (grass trimmings, green leaves, etc)
– Food wastes (kitchen scraps, spoiled fruits and vegetables, tea bags, coffee grounds, etc.,)
– Greens are also a good source of moisture
• Browns are the carbon source and include:
– Dry Leaves
– Wood chips and sawdust
– Some paper and cardboard
• What are your sources for compost?
• Are these sources reliable and consistent?
Creating a Tribal Compost System
•What size of system makes sense for you?•Who will manage and staff the program?•What funding do you have available to start, and maintain, a composting program?•Do you have a market – or who will use the finished compost?
Are these sources reliable and consistent?
• 108 Susanville Indian Rancheria Homes• 680 Tribal Members (living on and off the reservation combined)
And/Or • 24 SIR Tribal Business sources
Types of Systems: Large Scale• One example of a large scale system was started by the Eastern
band of Cherokee Indians• They operate one composting project for food wastes
– 72 tons per month collected from area restaurants and the tribal casino
– Mixed with office waste paper at compost facility– Packaged and sold as premium compost at $35 per ton– Provide compost coupons and starter gardening kits to tribal
members• They operate a second composting project for biosolids
– 96 tons per month– Sold for $15 per ton
Types of Systems: Home Bins
• Many communities focus their compost programs on encouraging individuals, households, and offices to use basic bins
• These can be built as part of a community project from construction and demolition debris
• Basic bins can also be purchased from a variety of retail stores or online.
conservationtutorials.org
Wire Screen Compost Bin
Compost bin with pallets
Types of Systems: Tumblers
• The Agdaagux Tribe of King Cove (AK) made tumblers and local kids decorated them. Tribal offices competed to make the best compost.
• Larger tumblers can be purchased, or made with waste materials, for larger scale projects.
• These usually speed up the process.
Bamboo Composters
Automatic Composters
Pile Composting
More Compost Methods
VermicultureVermiculture – “The process whereby worms feed on slowly decomposing materials (eg, vegetable scraps) in a controlled environment to produce a nutrient-rich soil ...www.phoenix.edu/about_us/glossary_of environmental_terms.aspx”
Vermiculture As a pilot project the SIR NRD has constructed several beds inside the
greenhouse. The beds are approximately 5inches deep. Compost is added to these beds weekly. Worms
are breaking down the compost material and making nutrient rich soil.
Plants are growing from this area naturally
as a result of the vermiculture method
Plants are healthyPlants are Producing vegetables
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
Received funding from USEPA in 2006 to design and develop a
composting program. The objective of acquiring these funds
was to address the composting need at the casino kitchen.
Vermiculture approach was added later.
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
Currently collecting green waste scraps from
21 SIR Business and office areas.
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
•The finished product is used for the tribe’s community gardens.
•Compost as well as surplus worms are available for community use•Compost is being mixed into the pre-existing garden soils
• This project is funded and managed by the tribe’s environmental program.
• First year funding provided by a grant from the USEPA Resource Conservation Fund Grant Region 9 in 2006 – this funding was utilized to secure equipment, supplies and a plan for the compost program.
• This program has now been added as a task in the SIR EPA Performance Partnership Grant as part of the recycling program. NOTE: The EPA PPG is intended to act as a capacity building grant only. EPA PPG is a funding source ideal for start up programs.
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
Challenges?
•Compost productivity•Developing a marketing strategy•Developing a plan to acquire 100% of green waste coming from the Casino Kitchen•Developing a plan to efficiently process the compost collected•Community/Staff Outreach
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
Challenges?
Developing a marketing strategy
The biggest challenge will be to develop the marketing plan.The marketing plan will be determined by compost productivity.Consider this:How will the compost be most useful?
•Soil additive only?•Improving the Tribal community garden?•Growing starter plants in the Tribal community garden?•Selling those starter plants?•Consider the feasibility of growing plants in the community garden? •Are there certain challenges you might face in doing so?
Who will the compost be most beneficial to?Is there an interest or need in the Tribal community?Surrounding communities?
Tribal Case Study: Susanville Indian Rancheria
Financing a Compost Program• Finding start up money is only the beginning of the
battle.• Unless you have a reliable source of money to keep
your compost program going it will not be sustainable.
• The benefit of home/office composting projects are small start up costs (if they are built with scrap material) and individuals are responsible for their maintenance.
• Larger scale programs can, at least, be partly funded through the sale of finished compost.
• Creativity is the key in finding maintenance funds.